It’s also 11 years since the notorious Red Wedding — the glorious series three switcheroo which, by killing off half the heroes, confirmed Thrones was playing for keeps.

Now, here comes episode three of the second season of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon (Sky Atlantic). 

Thus far, the going has been murky as viewers try to pick a side amongst the warring Targaryen dynasty, which rules Westeros in the franchise timeline (centuries prior to Thrones).
Nobody could accuse the show of bursting out of the traps, and thus far, the pacing in the prequel’s second year has been cautious.

But — finally! — the game is afoot. Prince Daemon (Matt Smith, leaving the acting to his curled lip) has breezed into the ancient fortress of Harrenhal, claiming it for the Blacks before the Greens can gain a toe-hold.

Back in the capital of King’s Landing, the Greens are consumed by conflict from without as Hand of the King Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans) is sacked by wayward ruler Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and replaced with Ser Larys (Matthew Needham), who carries a walking stick and speaks softly — typically with deadly results.

The heart of the instalment is a tete-à-tete between the leaders of Team Black and Team Green. Smuggled into King’s Landing, Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) sneaks up on Queen’s Mother, Alicent (Olivia Cooke), and these former friends hash it out. Or rather, they don’t — with Alicent refusing to countenance a truce. Which means just one thing: war.

Of course, that has been on the cards since the original season. But don’t worry, like a sleeping dragon slowly waking, the series is about to spread its wings, and episode four features one of the most epic battles in Game of Thrones history. 

Hurrah for that — and hurray for House of the Dragon, a ruminative fantasy thriller that just about makes up for the crash-and-burn conclusion of its parent show.